Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land. I attended the Invasion Day 2018 protest. Check my Twitter for discussion of the speakers earlier in the day, at The Block, Redfern. This was prior to our march to the Yabun Festival. Some highlights include the following comments from speakers.

“By marching under banner of Invasion Day 2018 we’re on the path to telling the truth about history.”

Grandmothers Against Removal discuss the “Friday night special” where officials come and take Aboriginal children on a Friday night or a public holiday to stop Aboriginal families from exercising their rights, when courts are closed off to them. #InvasionDay2018

Aboriginal people name themselves and their cultures. Aboriginal people call this day Invasion Day, not Australia Day:

“The Government constantly tries to classify and name Aboriginal people.”

Eric James Whittaker, Kamilaroi man, died in custody shackled to a bed. There are countless cases of Aboriginal people dying under police custody. This would never happen to white people because they’d be outrage. “This is a genocide.”

Palestinian speakers share their solitary with Aboriginal people.

Greens MPs say that the community stands in solidarity with Aboriginal people not just to right the wrongs of our history, but because injustice is still happening. “We need to change this country.”

Today is the 80th anniversary of the Day of Mourning, a protest by the Australian Aboriginal Progressive League. Aboriginal speakers say that the colonial mentality continues today:

“Stop killing our people. Stop taking our children.”

The Maritime Union say:

“We recognise the immeasurable contribution of Aboriginal people to this country.”

“We do not share this country equally. We will never share this country equally. We don’t just need to change the Date. We need to change the system.”

Scott McDimmi from Boraloola community, Northern Territory Intervention speaks against fracking:

“We have lived with our law not for 40,000 years. Not for 60,000 years. But since time began. We need to keep that law alive… White people need to respect our law.”

Gavin Stanbrook, from Gumbaynggirr country, on behalf of the Bowraville Three:

“I’m going to keep protesting until they give us our land back. Until they bring our children back.”

David Joseph Dungay’s family attended, shining a light on the ongoing injustice of his case and to his family.